5 Signs You Might Be in Survival Mode

Here are 5 signs that you might be in survival mode (fight or flight) and you may not recognize it, according to Aspen Robinson of AugustKnoxCoaching.com.

1. You are waking up between 3 AM to 5 AM because your cortisol is high. (Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone.) Usually this is when your cortisol level is lowest. But if you’re stressed or in trauma, the level rises and it will keep you up.
2. Nothing excites you anymore. You’re not sure if you’re depressed or just sad, but you lose interest in the things that you were once excited about.
3. You’re tired all the time. It doesn’t matter how much you rest or how little you accomplish every day, you feel exhausted.
4. You lose contact with people who matter and withdraw. You tend to isolate before but this time it goes deeper.
5. You feel more emotional. Your emotions level up and it frustrates you because nothing seems to go in your way.

You cannot constantly survive in fight or flight

Remember, you’re not doing anything wrong. You cannot, however, constantly survive in fight or flight. Your mind, your heart, and your body are not meant to live in this place.

If you notice that you’ve been living like this for a little while, it just means you need to take good care of your self. You need support, you need resources, and you probably need a lot of rest.

Be kind to yourself.

Shifting out of fight or flight

Once you recognize and acknowledge these, here are things you can do to shift out of fight or flight:

1. Place an ice pack on the back of your neck for up to 15 minutes. This helps reset the vagus nerve with is a major component of the nervous system.
2. Find a healthy self-soothing method that you enjoy to help comfort the nervous system.
3. Find a safe space for you to share your feelings.
4. If capable, take a walk and focus the rhythm of your breath.
5. Sunshine and nature relaxes the nervous system because they have a grounding vibration that the body naturally responds to. If you can’t make it outside, you can image it.

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